Steel tape holder



Nov. 9z 1948.f4 Y QA. BROWN l 2,453,115

STEEL TAPE HOLDER Filed Feb. 13, ,1945

A r lll/m "mmh Patented Nov. 9, 1948 STEEL l TAPE HOLDER Carl Brown, Aberdeen, Md.

Appiicaiion February 13, 1945, serial No. 577,717

3 Claims. (0133-137) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883; as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) u1 The invention described herein may be manufactured yand used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of .any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a tool or implement for holding an end of .a flexible measuring tape.

In star gauging gun barrels a exible tape,

placed un-dera predetermined tension, is iordi` narly used for measuring th-e length of the gun barrel being gauged. As many gun barrels are equipped with flash hiders, it is necessary to remove the iiash hider in order to accurately adjust and position the tape relatively to the muzzle of the barrel. The removal of the ash hider and its reapplication to the barrel, after the measurement-s have ybeen made, require considerabletime.

It is therefore a primary .aim of `this invention to provide an implement capable of quickly anchoring an end `oi a iiexible tape to accurately position a desired graduation of the tape at the muzzle end of a gun barrel, equipped with a illash hider, without removal oi the flash hider. to thereby expedite the operation of measuring the gun barrel.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide an implement capable of being utilized for accurately positioning a desired graduation of a flexible measuring tape in alignment with the muzzle end of a gun barrel, irrespective of whether or not said barrel is equipped with a ash hider, to thus lprovide mechanical means for accurately holding the anchored end of a ltensioned measuringtape in a desired position. i Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing= which il-` lustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view, partly in section, showing the tape holder in an applied position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the same;

Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe tape holder; and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, on a reduced scale, of the tape holder in an Vapplied position, taken substantially along the plane of the line 4 4 of Figure l.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference character-s designate like or corresponding parts, throughout the different i' views, 5 designates the muzzle end of a gun barrel to which is detachably connected a ilash hider t.

`These parts are of conventional construction and form no part of this invention, lbut areillustrated and described merely to better illustrate the use of the tape holder designated generally "Ifanjd""com-` prisingthe invention. i i

Tapeholder 'I includes an elongated shank 8 having an enlarged `head @which is suitably se# cured to or formedintegral with one end thereof, Head 9 is transversely disposed relatively* to the longitudinal aXis of the shank8a`nd`is Aprovided with a substantially ilat outer side i0 for purpose which will hereinafter becomeapparent. ilHe'adS is provided with a relatively Wide penin'g ill `"which is disposed above the shank 8 The shank'; ad` jacent the end thereof provided with the `head 9, is provided with anintegral hook I2 which opens away from the head 9 The .opposite end I3of`t"he shank 8 forms the handle off the implement `'Il may be ofanylengthisizeorsshapei 'i u Referring .to Figs. 1 and 2, I4 designates an end of a conventional flexible measuring tape Which may be formed of steel or any other suitable material which is non-elastic and which, as seen in Fig. 1, is graduated in inches. A link or loo-p I5 is attached t-o one end of the measuring tape I4.

` In star gauging a gun barrel, the length of the gun barrel is generally measured by a flexible steel tape which extends therethrough and which is placed under a uniform pull at the breach. end of the barrel. The `tape is suitably held at its opposite end so that the zero graduation thereof is flush with the muzzle end of the barrel. In order to accomplish this result, when the barrel is equipped with a flash hider, it has in the past been necessary to remove theiiash hider so as to expose inated. To measurethe length of the barrel 5,

the muzzle of the barrel to vcorrectly position the tape relative thereto. i

By the use of the tape holder 1, the operation of removing and replacing the flash hider elim- While equipped with a `flash hider 6, the measuring tape I4 is extended therethrough and the* is flush with the side or face I0. Thus, by positioning the headed end of the implement 1 in the ash hider E and with the face I0 bearing flush against the muzzle end of the barrel 5, the zero graduation of the tape I4 will be accurately positioned in alignment with the muzzle 'end of the barrel, so that the length of the barrel can be accurately measured. Thus, the impleupon the caliber of the barrel 5 with which it;is1

to be used. The recess I6 is disposed at, substan- `tially the samev level as the opening I'I so that the tape I4 will be substantially latandleveli onv `both sides of the opening 4I I, through which it loosely extends.

Various modifications and changes inthe in-A vention, as illustrated and described, are contemplated and may obviously. bearesortedltwithe out departing from the spiritand scope 'off'the`r v invention as hereinaftendefined by the appended Lolam:y l

1. A tape holder for use in.l measuringweapon barrels,,ccmprising an elongated shank-5 forming aahandle; .a\ headformedon.- oneend of the shank;

y saidl shank. havingg a. hook. opening away from the head;, anch saidl head being provided: with: an opening for loosely engaging a@ portionv of ameas. uring tape; onev endlof.y theztape' beingdetachably connected; to thefhook'.

f- 2.. A. tapei holden fon. use-in measuring" Weapon barreflsfcompri'sing a head havingan? elongated opening thereinfor` receivingl ani. endn oa meas.; uring= tancia shank .formed integral withv and'projectinggfrxom one-side of theheadfand away'from the: otheru end` of the-tape, ther headed end of the holder being@ adapted; to fbef positioned-within a flash holder and with the opposite side of the head bearing against the muzzle end of a barrel to which the ash holder is connected, and

means comprising a hook to which one end of Y vthe tape is detachably connected formed on said shank and opening laway from the head for engagingea loop.- on, the rst mentioned end of the tape; fonpositioning the zero graduation of the tape flush with the last'mentioned side of the 'head and with the muzzle end of the barrel.

engaging an end portion of a tape, a shank formed integral therewith and projecting `from one side ofthe head and away from the other end of saidtape, the other side of the said head being adapted to engage a portion of the object to be measuredg, a projection on said shank forming alhandleandaf hook formed on said shank opening away from the head for detachably engaging aA loopl oni the rst mentioned end of the tape'rfor positioning zero graduation of the tape iiushy with the-flast mentioned side of. the head, the recess in said hook being disposedat substantially the saine level as the elongated.4 opening, whereby the said tape will; be substantially flat and level on both sides cfithefsaid opening. Y

CARL A. BROWN.

REFERENCES einem) UNITED STATES PATENTS n Date 35 Number.l Name f 370,636 Martin Sept. 27, 1887 1,248,435 Anderson Dec. 4, 1917 

